Indie film distributor GKIDS announced today that their award-winning animated feature The Secret of Kells by director Tomm Moore has received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Animated Feature. All other nominees in the category were major studio releases from Fox, Disney/Pixar and Universal.

A viral, word-of-mouth Oscar campaign eschewed all paid advertising and capitalized on audience passion to create a groundswell of support for The Secret of Kells. The nomination is a major accomplishment in a year with so many well-regarded commercial animated releases.

The Secret of Kells is also the only independently distributed film nominated for the animation industry Annie Awards Best Animated Feature and is winner of the Audience Award at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Festival.

The Secret of Kells stars Brendan Gleeson, Liam Hourican, Mick Lally, Michael McGrath, Evan McGuire, Christen Mooney, Paul Tylack, Paul Young and will be released in American theaters nationwide on March 19.